Systems and methods for attaching one or more panels to a wall

ABSTRACT

A system for installing a panel to an interior wall is disclosed. The system includes a mounting bracket attached to the wall. The mounting bracket includes a lip. The system also includes a friction bracket attached to a backside of the panel. The friction bracket attaches to the lip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/379,449, filed Aug. 25, 2016, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to construction techniques and more particularly relates to systems and methods for attaching one or more panels to a wall.

BACKGROUND

Various construction techniques are known for attaching one or more panels to a wall. Current techniques, however, are complicated, cumbersome, expensive, and/or not aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, current techniques may limit one's ability to replace or switch out panels once they have been attached to the wall without invasive and time consuming construction methods, which can be prohibitively expensive.

SUMMARY

Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein. For example, a system for installing a panel to an interior wall is disclosed. The system includes a mounting bracket attached to the wall. The mounting bracket includes a lip. The system also includes a friction bracket attached to a backside of the panel. The friction bracket attaches to the lip.

Other features and aspects of the disclosure will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following FIGURES and the detailed description. All other features and aspects, as well as other system, method, and assembly embodiments, are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

The FIGURE depicts a perspective cross-sectional view of a wall panel installation assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for attaching one or more panels to a wall are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the wall may be an interior wall of a building. In other instances, the wall may be an exterior wall of a building. In some instances, the wall may include a number of studs. When attached, the one or more panels may enclose the wall about the studs. In some instances, a number of panels may be used.

In an example embodiment, an assembly for attaching one or more panels to a wall includes a mounting bracket attached to the wall. The mounting bracket may include a lip. In some instances, a number of mounting brackets may be used. The assembly also may include a friction bracket attached to a backside of the panel. In some instances, a number of friction brackets may be used. The friction bracket may be attached to the lip. For example, a slot may be formed between the friction bracket and the backside of the panel, and the lip may be disposed within the slot.

In some instances, the slot includes an upper slot facing up and a lower slot facing down. Likewise, the lip may include an upper lip extending upward and a lower lip extending downward. In addition, a magnet may be disposed within a cavity in the mounting bracket. A cap may be disposed adjacent to the magnet such that the cap is held in place by the magnet. For example, a magnet may be disposed within a cavity of a top mounting bracket, and a top cap may be disposed adjacent to the top magnet. Similarly, a magnet may be disposed within a cavity of a bottom mounting bracket, and a bottom cap may be disposed adjacent to the bottom magnet.

Turning now to the drawing, the FIGURE depicts an assembly 100 for attaching one or more panels 102 to a wall 104. The panels 102 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration. For example, in one embodiment, the panels 102 may be generally rectangular. Any number of panels 102 may be attached to the wall 104. For example, the panels 102 may be attached to the wall 104 in a side-by-side arrangement and/or disposed above and/or below one another. In this manner, the panels 102 may abut one another one some or all side.

The panels 102 may be attached to the wall 104 using mounting brackets 106 and friction brackets 108. In some instances, a number of mounting brackets 106 may be used. In certain embodiments, the mounting brackets 106 may be attached to the wall 104 using one or more fasteners 110, such as nails, screws, hooks, etc. In other instances, the mounting brackets 106 may be attached to the wall 104 via an adhesive. The mounting brackets 106 may be attached to the wall 104 in any suitable manner. In other instances, as discussed below, one or more of the mounting brackets 106 may be attached to each other. For example, a first mounting bracket 106 may be attached to the wall 104, and a second mounting bracket 106 (such as an upper mounting bracket 116 or a lower mounting bracket 114) may be attached to the first mounting bracket 106.

The mounting brackets 106 may include a lip 112. The lip 112 may be spaced apart from a portion of the mounting brackets 106 that is attached to the wall 104. That is, the mounting bracket 106 may include (1) a main body 109, which is attachable to the wall 104 (or another mounting bracket), (2) an arm 111 extending generally transverse from the main body 109, and (3) the lip extending from the arm 111 generally parallel to the wall 104. In this manner, the main body 109, the arm 111, and the lip 112 may generally form a U-shaped channel. Depending on the orientation of the lip 112, the U-shaped channel may face upward or downward. In some instances, each arm 111 may include a first lip 112 extending upward therefrom and a second lip 112 extending downward therefrom. For example, the lip 112 may include an upper lip extending upward and/or a lower lip extending downward. That is, depending on the location of the mounting brackets 106, the mounting brackets 106 may include an upper lip, a lower lip, or both. For example, a lower mounting bracket 114 may include an upper extending lip, an upper mounting bracket 116 may include a lower extending lip, and a middle mounting bracket 118 may include both an upper extending lip and a lower extending lip.

The friction brackets 108 may be attached to a backside of the panels 102. In some instances, a number of friction brackets 108 may be used. For example, the friction brackets 108 may be attached to an upper portion of the panels 102 and a lower portion of the panels 102. Any number of friction brackets 108 may be attached to the panels 102. The friction brackets 108 may be attached to the lip 112. For example, a slot 120 may be formed between the friction brackets 108 and the backside of the panels 102, and the lip 112 may be disposed within the slot 120. In some instances, the slot 120 may include an upper slot facing up and a lower slot facing down. In this manner, the upper slot may mate with a lower lip, and the lower slot may mate with an upper lip.

In certain embodiments, the friction brackets 108 may be elastic. That is, the friction brackets 108 may deflect as the lips 112 are slid into the slots 120. However, the friction brackets 108 may then spring back and exert a force against the lips 112 to maintain a tight fit between the friction brackets 108 and the lips 112. As a result, the panels 102 may be secured in place.

In addition, a magnet 122 may be disposed within a cavity 124 in the mounting brackets 108, such as the upper mounting bracket 116 and the lower mounting bracket 114. A cap 126 may be disposed adjacent to the magnet 124 such that the cap 126 is held in place by the magnet 122. For example, the cap 126 may be magnetic or include magnetic material attached thereto. In one example embodiment, a magnet 122 may be disposed within a cavity 124 of the upper mounting bracket 116, and a top cap 128 may be disposed adjacent to the magnet 122. Similarly, a magnet 122 may be disposed within a cavity 124 of the lower mounting bracket 114, and a bottom cap 130 may be disposed adjacent to the magnet 122.

In some instances, one or more of the mounting brackets 106 may be attached to each other. For example, a first mounting bracket 106 may be attached to the wall 104, and a second mounting bracket 114, 116 may be attached to the first mounting bracket 106. In such instances, the first mounting bracket 106 may include a protrusion 113 and rib 115 that collectively form an elongated connecting channel for interconnecting the mounting brackets 106. For example, the protrusion 113 in the first mounting bracket 106 may be an L-shaped protrusion that extends from the main body 109 of the mounting bracket 106, and the rib 115 may extend from the arm 111 generally parallel to the wall 104. The second mounting bracket 114, 116 may include a corresponding leg 117 that is positionable into a channel formed between the protrusion 113 and rib 115 in order to attach the first mounting bracket 106 to the second mounting bracket 114, 116.

In use, a mounting bracket 106 may be attached to the wall 104 using the fasteners 110. Next, a panel 102 may be attached to the mounting bracket 106 via the friction bracket 108. For example, the lip 112 may be disposed within the slot 120. Additional mounting brackets 106 may then be attached to the wall about the panel 102, and the process may be repeated. In some instances, the top and/or bottom mounting brackets 106 may include magnets 122 that maintain the end caps 126 in place.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A system for installing a panel to an interior wall, the system comprising: a mounting bracket attached to the wall, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a lip; and a friction bracket attached to a backside of the panel, wherein the friction bracket attaches to the lip.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a slot formed between the friction bracket and the backside of the panel.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the lip is disposed within the slot.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a magnet disposed within a cavity of the mounting bracket.
 5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a cap disposed adjacent to the magnet.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second mounting bracket attachable to the mounting bracket.
 7. An assembly, comprising: a mounting bracket attached to an interior wall, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a lip; a panel; and a friction bracket attached to a backside of the panel, wherein the friction bracket attaches to the lip; and a slot formed between the friction bracket and the backside of the panel.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the lip is disposed within the slot.
 9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the slot comprises an upper slot facing up and a lower slot facing down.
 10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the lip comprises an upper lip extending upward and a lower lip extending downward.
 11. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a magnet disposed within a cavity of the mounting bracket.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a cap disposed adjacent to the magnet.
 13. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of panels.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of mounting brackets.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the friction bracket comprises a plurality of friction brackets.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a magnet disposed within a cavity of a top mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets.
 17. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a top cap disposed adjacent to the top magnet.
 18. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a magnet disposed within a cavity of a bottom mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets.
 19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a bottom cap disposed adjacent to the bottom magnet.
 20. A method for installing a panel to an interior wall, the method comprising: providing a mounting bracket attachable to the wall, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a lip; and providing a friction bracket attachable to a backside of the panel, wherein the friction bracket attaches to the lip. 